A Loire Valley River cruise is ideal to explore French history, France's scenic and untouched landscapes, and France's cultural heritage. CroisiEurope operates cruises on board a new revolutionary boat, the MS Loire Princesse, equipped with a paddle wheel, sailing the Loire river like never experienced before.
A Loire river cruise is also the unique opportunity to explore the Châteaux of the Loire Valley, including the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, the Châteaux of Chinon, Villandry, and the Ussé Château. French national monuments, these estates comprise wonderful gardens, and will take you back to a time of legends and fairytales.
Explore the Loire, a royal legacy rich in diversity and history. Tour the area in comfort, experiencing the best in French cuisine and the ultimate in hospitality.
The journey begins in Nantes, a mysterious and vibrant city that reveals itself through its secret courtyards and passageways, the Castle of the Dukes of Brittany, and the Machines de l’Île, a fascinating world where Jules Verne’s imagination meets the inventions of Leonardo da Vinci. The stop in Saint-Nazaire, meanwhile, takes you deep into the fascinating world of ocean liners, from the shipyard, a flagship of French shipbuilding, to Escal’Atlantic. The Muscadet wine route and the medieval village of Clisson round out this first leg of the journey, offering a deep dive into the Nantes region before heading upriver.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Loire Valley is the setting for a complimentary day trip to explore its most beautiful castles. Azay-le-Rideau, perched on the waters of the Indre as if mirroring the Renaissance, and Villandry, renowned for the perfection of its French gardens, paint a picture of rare beauty, bearing witness to a royal way of life shaped over the centuries. It is aboard the MS Loire Princesse, a paddlewheel boat unique in the world, that you’ll experience this exclusive cruise, gliding silently between the sandy banks of the “Royal River.”
The itinerary concludes with a stop in Angers, whose medieval castle houses the famous Apocalypse Tapestry, a masterpiece of medieval art whose colors and precision continue to amaze visitors today. Nearby, the Château de Brissac, the highest castle in France, rises majestically from its expansive landscaped grounds, offering wine tastings in its historic cellars. With its exceptional heritage, Loire Valley cuisine, and gentle landscapes, the Loire reveals a regal, refined, and deeply captivating side of France.
